1930s | Book Girl & Little Bear

Murder in the Cathedral: The New Miss Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood

This is the 23^rd and final Phryne Fisher mystery, published a year after the author’s death. Phryne is a wealthy private detective in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1920s and early 1930s. Phryne is elegant, dashing, beautifully dressed, and practically fearless. She drives too fast and occasionally flies a plane, and seems to have friends and acquaintances all over Australia. Phryne and her assistant Dot travel to Bendigo where Phryne’s friend Lionel is to be installed as the Anglican Bishop in the cathedral. Lionel senses that all is not well in Bendigo, and wants Phryne to help in case of any trouble.

A murder does occur, in front of many witnesses, in the cathedral. Phryne, Dot, local Constable Watson and Inspector Mick Kelly search for clues in the death of a deacon with too many secrets. A nearby gold mine, long disused, may provide some answers. Phryne persuades Dot to buy a new gown for an upcoming special occasion, and interviews the deacon’s widow, a physician. A lively mix of church politics, wonderful meals, gorgeous gowns, and just enough sense of danger keeps the pages turning quickly. I listened to the audiobook, very nicely narrated by Wendy Bos. The print book will be published in the U.S. in November. Phryne will be missed. For more about the series, the website is here: http://phrynefisher.com/books.html. Phryne will also be familiar to viewers of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on PBS, starring Essie Davis.

Brenda

Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

Ellie Endicott is surprised at breakfast one morning in 1938 when her husband Lionel tells her of his plans to get a divorce and marry a younger woman named Michelle. Also, he wants the house that Ellie has furnished and decorated over many years. Ellie can, perhaps, have a small cottage by the train station instead. After decades in Surrey, southwest of London, Ellie has had enough. Her household help, Mavis, and older, outspoken Dora encourage her to make a fresh start.

They all end up in Lionel’s Bentley, heading for the south of France. They wind up in St. Benet, a small fishing village, along with scared and pregnant Yvette. Ellie speaks excellent French, and Dora speaks enough, while Mavis is willing to learn. They find rooms in a guesthouse just getting ready to close for the season, and get to know the villagers. Then the war begins, and Lionel and their grown sons encourage Ellie to come home again.

The village and the scenery are beautifully described, along with the larger hillside house Ellie decides to rent and restore, with help from the villagers. As the war progresses, they acquire a pair of goats, chickens, and a beehive. Ellie learns to drive a speed boat and occasionally visits a monastery on a nearby island. Dora’s failing health improves and Yvette’s baby arrives. There are no battles in St. Benet, so the plot is mostly about life and food in southern France during the occupation, making do, trading food, and helping the resistance. Also, unexpectedly, finding love. Ellie is resilient and very good company for the reader. Not every villager makes it through the war years, and there is certainly danger and hardship, but Ellie is still happy with her choice to stay in St. Benet. Splendid storytelling with a strong sense of place makes this a good choice for readers of World War II fiction on the homefront.

Brenda